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Black Mirrors and X-Files

The latest in a long line of sci-fi cult phenomenon has been renewed for a fifth season! The British series has been toying with the what if’s of modern technology and the terribly twisted paths it could take us on since 2011, but it wasn’t until recently that the show really seemed to gain a following and hit the mainstream americanized media. You can probably attribute this to a variety of reasons, but I’d like to think that this new found fame can be connected to either A, the release of AI and other sorts of new technology found in Black Mirror that we can foresee being humanity’s doom, or B, a newly awakened interest in the newest generation of older cult classics like the Twilight Zone, the Outer Limits and the the X-Files.

If you’re a long time fan of the latter like I am, you may have been drawn to dipping a toe or two into Black Mirror during one of the X-Files latest hiatus’. Whether you liked it or not, it’s hard not to notice influences and inspirations that so obviously came from the X-Files within the show. Personally, I’d like to attribute the fact that none of the Black Mirror episodes seem to have a finalized ending, or for the most part even a happy ending, to the X-Files, a show that also never seemed to have a for sure stopping point to any story line, no matter how minor or not. I’d also like to say that Black Mirror took the paranoia that surrounds the X-Files idea of constant government surveillance, and doubled it. If not tripled it. That being said, it’s funny to note that in one of the latest episodes of the X-Files there was a definite, if not blatant, homage to the British series. Spoilers aside, the cinematography of the episode was so similar to Black Mirror it was shocking. Cool toned scenes juxtaposed by in your face warm shots are prevalent in many a Black Mirror episode and it was just funny to see a show like the X-Files that’s been on for so long, still learning and adapting for whatever new audience it gains over the years. Again, spoilers aside, this episode has taught me to always be nice to whatever AI you may come across. Love you Google.